BENSALEM, Pa. –  Montverde (Fla.) Academy or IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)? Who is No. 1?

That depends upon who your inside sources are; or what analyst or writer you are speaking with. The answers vary but an educated answer is derived through observation and history of  the programs.

It’s never easy choosing the No. 1 team for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason boys’ basketball rankings but we’re staying with Montverde Academy. There’s a burning desire for the Eagles return to the summit of schoolboy basketball and the Florida powerhouses could meet up to four times this season.

The last time the powerhouse programs hooked up it was the GEICO High School Nationals semifinals last April when IMG rallied from 16 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles, 74-73. That didn’t sit well with Montverde and their coach Kevin Boyle. Meanwhile, IMG coach Sean McAloon delivered a GEICO championship and walked away with the Blue Star Media National Championship.

Moving ahead both teams have reloaded, adding a bevy of transfers, and are willing to play during the regular season to gain separation.

There seems to be a gulf between the top two and the rest of the Elite 25, which is loaded with 13 teams that could appear in the GEICO Nationals. No. 3 The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) has emerged from a crowded field to back-up the top two.

We’re also wondering if No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), No. 9 Huntingdon (W.Va.) Prep and No. 16 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) can stay in the Elite 25. In recent years, these schools had reclassified student-athletes. That’s a no-no in the Elite 25 and teams have been dropped immediately if this is discovered.

Additionally, we’re taking fliers on No. 24 Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) and No. 25 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis). Both have the personnel to make deep runs into March. Minnehaha aims for a fourth straight Minnesota state title while Legacy is new the national scene but had a splendid 2018-19 season.

OK, that’s a preamble and the games will take care of the rest. In some states, the games have already begun.

The Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return pre-Christmas. The bloated holiday tournament calendar and showcase events in November and December necessitate it. We’ll allow a few weeks to be crossed off the calendar to revisit the Elite 25 when all teams have tipped off their seasons.

It’s still a few weeks away but enjoy Thanksgiving and spending time with your family.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball preseason rankings, Nov. 5, 2019

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-3)

Low-down: Most believe the Eagles are the most complete and best schoolboy team and there’s an agreement with the Elite 25 rankings. If things play out in April, coach Kevin Boyle and the Boys in Purple will have annexed the program’s fifth mythical national championship since arriving from New Jersey. The greatest challenge isn’t attracting players but blending them into a cohesive, functioning unit and Boyle is the puppet master that pulls the strings. This year’s squad features 6-3 Zeb Jackson, 6-7 high-flying Scottie Barnes, 6-1 Ryan Nembhard, 6-5 Moses Moody, 6-4 junior Langston Love (from Texas), North Carolina-bound 6-10 Day’Ron Sharpe and 6-5 wing Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State), plus precocious sophomore 6-6 Caleb Houston and 6-4 Dariq Whitehead. . There’s a strong chance Cunningham, Barnes and Sharpe will be named to the McDonald’s All-American Game. All that talent but one ball and the Eagles make it work. When players attend Montverde, they are promised the highest-level competition and that’s what Boyle delivered. The nonstop schedule begins with two games in Texas after Thanksgiving and picks up again with an ESPN-game against DeMatha at home on Dec. 12. The event slate continues with City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers (Dec. 19-23); John Walls Invitational (Dec. 27-30) in Raleigh, N.C.; two at the ARS Hoopfest (Jan. 3-4) in Memphis, Tenn.; No. 2 IMG Academy and No. 15 McEachern (Jan. 19-20) at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.; Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (Jan. 23-25) and Saint James Invitational (Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1) in Hagerstown, Md. The Eagles won’t play a competitive game until April 2 at the GEICO High School Invitational in New York and IMG could be there. It’s worth the wait.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (31-1)

Low-down: The defending Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions and GEICO Nationals title holders are back and reloaded for another historical run. Three McDonald’s All-Americans graduated but there’s plenty of headliners with 6-4 Jaden Springer (Tennessee pledge), 7-3 Zach Edey, 6-2 Chikara Tanaka, 6-8 power forward Jalen Johnson (Duke), 6-3 Matthew Murrell, 6-10 junior post Moussa Diabete, 7-foot Mark Williams and highly rated sophomores 6-9 Brandon Huntley-Hartley and 6-6 Jarace Walker. Coach Sean McAloon’s team is at ease in the halfcourt offense or going high octane. Height isn’t an issue but developing a chemistry at both ends will be. Obviously, IMG is in demand and there is no shortage of competitive games, including up to three scheduled against top-ranked Montverde Academy and a fourth could be at the GEICO Nationals in New York. The Ascenders will play in the talent-rich City of Palms Classic in nearby Fort Myers before Christmas, Hoophall Class in Springfield, Mass., and the Saint James Invitational (Jan. 30 and 31-Feb. 1) in Maryland. They also played No. 9 Huntington Prep on Jan. 10. Yet a fourth potential meeting with Montverde at GEICO is what the national craves and could decide who’s No. 1.

 3. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (17-10)

Low-down: Change is good, actually for the Celtics, it’s very good. Not only did the Celtics upgrade their roster but the schedule is off the hook, too. The highlights are games with No. 4 Sierra Canyon, No. 18 Roselle Catholic (maybe four times), No. 15 McEachern, No. 9 Huntington Prep and No. 19 Long Island Lutheran and a post-Christmas trip to North Carolina for the John Wall Holiday Invitational. The regular season is capped by the Union County Tournament. Other in-state tussles include Camden, Trenton Catholic Academy, Wildwood Catholic and Newark East Side. To say the Celtics will be battle tested would be an understatement. This might be the strongest schedule assembled. And coach Chris Chavannes will have myriad options to roll a strong five onto the court with super 6-9 junior Jonathan Kuminga (No. 1 player in 2021, NBA lottery in 2022), 6-4 Zarique Nutter, 6-foot sophomore Dionte Johnson and 6-9 junior man-child Adama Sanogo and 6-1 Noah Farrakhan. There are at least eight high majors and three future NBA players on the roster. There’s depth in the backcourt with Al Fatir Connors and 6-0 Kirk Parsons. But size ultimately matters with 6-9 Mouhamed Sow, 6-11 junior Bretner Mutombo, 6-10 Samson Johnson 7-foot Chris Jiao (from China). There’s something special brewing in North Jersey.

4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (32-3)

Low-down: Here’s how crazy things are getting at Sierra—the team held a media day and made a preseason trip to Chine in September. That means the Trailblazers, who have won back-to-back CIF Open Division state championships, have a leg up and will need it with an influx of transfer and young talents that includes the sons of NBA future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Sierra will play without 6-7 high-major shooter Ziaire Williams, who averaged a double-double last year at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), until Dec. 29 under CIF-Southern Section transfer rules but will ride Kentucky-bound 6-7 BJ Boston and 6-8 Tellen Frank (TCU recruit), point guard Zaire Wade and sophomore Amari Bailey, a gold medal winner with USA U16 at the 2019 FIBA Americas. Freshman Bronny James is a 6-3 guard with a burgeoning perimeter game and buys into the team concept. Coach Andre Chevalier is known adherent to playing sticky defense and the Trailblazers will fulfill his wishes due to a demanding nationally themed schedule. The main challengers are Duncanville (Texas), Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio), four games at the Damien Classic (Dec.26-30), No. 3 The Patrick School and No. 25 Minnehaha Academy (Jan. 3-4) both in Minnesota, No. 21 Rancho Christian (Jan. 11), two games at Hoophall Classic, including No. 8 Paul VI on Jan. 20 and finally an East Coast trip for two games at the Metro Classic—Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.) on Feb. 7 and No. 19 Long Island Lutheran on Feb. 8. Then it’s the CIF section and region playoffs. However, winning the last game is what counts the most.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-7)

Low-down: If there was a game-changing transfer last summer it was Jalen Green. And guess, what? He’s the most prized recruit on the Crew’s roster. At 6-6, Green (from Fresno, Calif.) is looking more like a lottery pick in 2021 and will have an impact as a playmaker and scorer. He can take over a game and scores in gobs. Green teams with 6-4 Nimari Burnett and 6-7 junior Jaden Jones in the senior class. Up front, 7-1 Saba Gigiberia, a product from the Republic of Georgia and formerly of Findlay Prep (Nev.), and Illinois-bound 6-10 Coleman Hawkins and 6-10 junior Frank Anselem, who may reclassify to the Class of 2020. The Crew, whose players attend Napa Christian, will be featured at the Chick-fil-A Classic in South Carolina prior to Christmas but will a bulk of their time play in the Grind Session at regional sites. One stand-alone game against No. 13 La Lumiere is scheduled for the Hoophall Classic on Jan. 19.

6. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (33-5)

Low-down: The Stags won the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and Maryland Private Schools titles, setting up coach Mike Jones for a potentially special season. That’s easier said because the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference doesn’t believe in handouts; everything is earned on the court. The senior class regulars are 6-6 wing Earl Timberlake, 7-1 center Hunter Dickinson, 6-8 Paul Smith (East Tennessee State). Dickinson is a menace in the middle and posts double-doubles like breathing air. Timberlake is a physically gifted lefthanded wing with explosion and will crash the boards. But the contributions of 6-5 shooter Tyrell Ward and 6-5 junior transfer Jordan Hawkins should not be overlooked. Jones is closing in on 500 coaching wins and could get it sometime in March but that will mean more postseason tournament titles or the WCAC tournament crown. The schedule is loaded with Baltimore Catholic League champion St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), No. 1 Montverde Academy, No. 22 Mater Dei and No. 21 Rancho Christian at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. League heavyweights and Elite 25 teams Paul VI and Gonzaga will make life edgy this season.

7. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (32-5)

Low-down: It’s an annual exercise where to rank the powerhouse Warriors, who are coached by future Naismith Hall of Famer Steve Smith. So, it’s not where they will be ranked but how high? Last year, the Warriors were the preseason No. 1 but this year the talent level isn’t as high. Or is it? The season will give us answers and for now all signs point to OHA developing a chemistry with each game. At 6-3, Cameron Thomas is go-to scorer and can fill it up from all angles. LSU-bound post Bradley Ezewiro, who capable of a double-double with his interior presence. KK Robinson, Darrick Jones, Jr. (Towson recruit), 6-5 zone-shredding sharpshooter Darius Maddox (Virginia Tech), 6-1 point guard Evan Johnson, 6-2 Delaney Heard, 6-6 junior Jalen Ricks (Arkansas) and 6-7 sophomore Jalen Reed all add depth to the backcourt. Ezewiro has help up front from 6-8 Jamari Sibley and 6-9 Emmanuel Okpomo (originally from Nigeria). Sibley, a face-up athletic scorer, has Iowa and Georgetown on his short list. OHA’s schedule is long, grueling and tips off in late October. However, the meat of the slate is concentrated at the Iolani Classic in Honolulu prior to Christmas. After a holiday break, the Warriors have the “Springfield Double,” meaning three games at the talent-rich Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri (Jan. 16-18) and an ESPN game against No. 11 Bishop Gorman at the Hoophall Classic (Jan. 20) in Massachusetts. After that it’s 15 games before a respite that takes the Red and Gold to an annual trek to the GEICO Nationals, where the stakes are the highest. Smith and the boys wouldn’t have it any other way.

8. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (27-9)

Low-down: For most the regular season co-championship of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and runner-up at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament would be a solid season but pardon coach Glenn Farello and his Panthers but they are greedy. In basketball circles, greed is good when it comes to the accolades and titles. The more you win the more you hang banners and stuff the trophy case. Well, for PVI this is it on the current campus and the raucous confines of the PAC (Panther Activity Center). The school is moving 8 miles to Chantilly in Loudon County to a state-of-the-art campus. Before the Black and Gold depart the Beltway, they’ll roll out crazy-good lineup that features 6-2 Jeremy Roach (Duke recruit), 5-11 sophomore Dug McDaniel, 6-4 junior Trevor Keel, 6-4 Josiah Freeman and 6-6 junior Tyler Coleman. The former three are USA Basketball prospects while Freeman is a dependable scorer at all three levels. As for the schedule, the WCAC is every coach’s routine nightmare but a hoop junkie’s paradise. At one stretch in late January, PVI must play No. 5 DeMatha sandwiched between games with St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.). Farello is taking PVI to the ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest, Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del., after Christmas, Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri and the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts. The latter two events are played over the long Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend in mid-January. After the national slate cools, the red-hot play continues in the WCAC. Farello and the Panthers will be tested that’s for sure.

9. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (21-4)

Low-down: Coach Arkell Bruce can unleash a squad that five players that are off to high-major schools. The bigs are 6-10 Isaiah Cottrell (West Virginia recruit), 6-8 forward Jaemyn Brakefield (Duke) and 7-foot Zach Loveday (Baylor). Add Michigan State-bound 6-4 AJ Hoggard and 6-6 Dudley Blackwell (Iowa State) and you get the picture. The junior class features 6-3 Brayon Freeman, 6-7 Duncan Powell (Arkansas) and 6-4 Shane Dezonie. Size and quality will define and propel the Fighting Irish. Prep can stamp themselves a national contender with a favorable showing or winning the Chick-fil-A Classic (Dec. 19-21 and 23) in Columbia, S.C, where six teams from the Elite 25 preseason rankings will compete. However, it takes more to reach the GEICO Nationals, an event that Prep once was a regular.

10. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (28-9)

Low-down: The Eagles are the third team from the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference in the Elite 25, continuing the dominance of the league as the nation’s elite loop. If coach Steve Turner pushes No. 6 DeMatha and No. 8 Paul VI, he’ll need a triumvirate of Power-6 bound athletes to set the tone. It starts with 6-7 Terrance Williams (Georgetown), 6-7 Myles Stute (Vanderbilt) and 6-3 Chuck Harris (Butler). Williams (17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is the main man while Stute (9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) will need to up his production. At 6-4, junior Malcolm Dread and 5-9 sophomore Devin Dinkins will complement Harris in the backcourt. The Eagles will spread their wings nationally, namely at the City of Palms Classic in Florida, where a star-studded field has been assembled.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (28-5)

Low-down: Finally, an invitation to the GEICO Nationals and well-deserved coach Grant Rice’s team. The Gaels captured an eighth consecutive Nevada win championship. Unfortunately, 6-10 Noah Cottrell, a main part, transferred to No. 9 Huntington Prep but 6-4 sharpshooter Noah Taitz (15.6 ppg), a Stanford pledge, and junior guard Will McClendon (12.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) is the other double-digit scorer and sparks the backcourt. At 6-6, Mwani Wilkinson (7.8 ppg) is an athletic forward and 6-2 junior point guard Zaon Collins (9.6 ppg, 6.8 apg) is a facilitator and top decision-maker with the ball. At 6-8, freshman Max Allen (6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

12. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (21-8)

Low-down: Coach Carl Arrigale is a Philadelphia Catholic League legend and returns a trio of seniors that will surely push the Saints to the Class 3A state championship rather than last year’s ouster in the quarterfinals. Using that as fuel, Arrigale will have size and a reliable point guard. The backcourt of 5-9 Hakim Byrd and 6-6 Cam Young (Bowling Green) is dynamite and ready to withstand the rigors of the uber competitive Philadelphia Catholic League. At 6-8, the slashing forward Che Evans is headed to San Diego State and joins the team after winning a Maryland state championship. He’s joined by 6-6 Jordan Hall, who will stay close to home and attend Saint Joseph’s. The schedule is loaded and highlighted by a trip to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic before Christmas.

13. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (30-1)

Low-down: Oh, did the Lakers come ever so close to winning a second GEICO Nationals championship last April but IMG Academy erased that thought in the national final. So, it’s back to the drawing board for coach Patrick Holmes, who relies on a cadre of guards—6-3 Jaden Ivey (Purdue pledge), 5-10 Wendell Green, 6-1 Denham Wojcik—while the frontline is young but lengthy and long. It’s composed of 6-7 sophomore Kamari Lands and juniors 7-1 Rocco Muratori, slender 6-11 Treyton Thompson and 6-8 Jeremy Sochan (from Poland). The Lakers are loaded with juniors and sophomores, so performing at a high level at the Chick-fil-A Classic in South Carolina prior Christmas and games with Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) and No. 17 Sunrise Christian at the Cancer Research Classic (Jan. 3-4) in West Virginia, plus and back-to-back games with No. 10 Gonzaga and No. 5 Prolific Prep (Jan. 19-20) at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., should indoctrinate them to the demands of a national program.

14. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (26-4)

Low-down: The Tigers will start the season without 6-8 post Mady Sissoko (hand injury), a Michigan State recruit and a bouncy athletes that is a perfect rim protector. He averaged 12.7 points and 9.0 rebounds and will be temporarily missed on the court. Picking up that slack is Utah-bound 6-7 Caleb Lohner (9.7 ppg), 6-1 point guard Michael Saunders (Cincinnati) and 6-4 wing Richie Saunders (the Saunders are not related). At 6-2, Richard Issacs, Jr., is an elite sophomore guard giving coach David Evans another option. For the Tigers to solidify their invitation to GEICO Nationals in April, they will need to show their worth at power events such as Iolani Classic (in Hawaii), Cancer Research Classic (West Virginia) and Bob Kirk Invitational (Maryland).

15. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (32-0)

Low-down: The biggest disappointment of the 2018-19 season were the Indians, who declined an invitation to the GEICO Nationals in April following a season that manufactured a Georgia Class AAAAAAA title. The undisputed leader is 6-1 Sharife Cooper (28.6 ppg, 8.7 apg, 4.1 spg), who stuffs the stat sheet nightly and is off to Auburn but not before a selection to the McDonald’s All-American Game. At 6-11, center Dylan Cardwell is a much-needed addition after transferring in from Oak Hill Academy as is 6-4 junior Camron McDowell (from Lincoln Academy in North Carolina). The Indians won’t surprise anyone at the City of Palms Classic this year, so winning back-to-back titles is a stretch but they are 7-1 in two appearances at the blockbuster schoolboy hoop event.

16. Hillcrest Prep, Phoenix (35-6)

Low-down: The Arizonans are loaded but took a hit last week when Kyree Walker left school and is expected to graduate sometime next month before enrolling in college or opting for pro ball. Coach Mike Bibby then said 6-3 sophomore Devontes Cobbs has transferred into the program. So that only makes the Bruins deeper with 6-9 junior Michael Foster, Jr., 6-7 Donovan Johnson (his brother Cam plays in the NBA), 6-8 wing Keon Edwards, Arizona-bound 6-6 Dalen Terry and 6-9 power forward Sadrague Nganga form the core.

17. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (23-6)

Low-down: Finally, the Buffaloes have arrived on the national scene. They are firmly planted in the national conversation and last year’s appearance at the GEICO Nationals in New York should be the first of many. Having said that coach Luke Barnwell’s club is talented with a raft of transfers flocking to Kansas. The quicker he blends the talents of 6-3 Jayden Stone and 6-3 Ty Berry—both seniors—with talented 6-7 junior Kendall Brown and super sophomores 6-0 Willie Lighfoot and 6-4 Shaedon Sharpe the quicker the team will dismantle opponents. The Buffaloes will play in the Signature Series at the City of Palms, a four-team bracket, before Christmas in Florida.

18. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (28-4)

Low-down: Coach Dave Boff’s team will battle No. 3 The Patrick School for State Tournament of Champions title. First, the Lions must win the Non-Public B chip but TPS stands in the way. The teams could meet up to four times this season, including two in the regular season and once in the Union City Tournament. Otherwise 6-11 post Cliff Omoruyi 6-5 wing CJ Wilcher (Xavier recruit) and 6-5 Niels Lane are the top prospects with 6-foot point guard Richie Greaves orchestrating the offense. Quality schedule brings the Lions to the Slam Dunk to the Beach after Christmas in Delaware, the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia and Hoophall Classic over the Dr. Martin Luther King weekend in Massachusetts. Suffice it to say strength of schedule will prepare the Lions for rigors New Jersey’s postseason.

19. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (23-2)

Low-down: The defending New York State Federation Class AA champions are senior laden with 6-9 Zed Key (Ohio State signee), 6-1 point guard Andre Curbelo and 6-7 wing Jalen Celestine. Coach John Buck usually adds a transfer or two and this year’s top addition could be 6-8 junior Kasper Klaczek from Poland. The Crusaders have an ultra-competitive schedule that includes the Iolani Classic in Hawaii before Christmas and then a few days after returning from the South Pacific it’s off to the Beachball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Playing No. 20 Archbishop Stepinac in the Fed final is a dream matchup.

20. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (14-16)

Low-down: Only a season removed from capturing the New York State Federation Class AA and New York Catholic High School Athletic Association intersectional titles, the Crusaders are back and hungry to repeat that vaunted double. This is a guard-driven squad that features 6-1 RJ Davis (North Carolina recruit) and 6-6 elite junior Adrian Griffin, Jr., who combined for 46 points per outing when healthy. Griffin recently announced he’s going to Duke. At 6-8, Malcolm Chimeze is a raw post that has improved greatly from last season. He’s on target for a breakout campaign. Coach Patrick Massaroni is prime to lead his club onto the national scene and two good starting points in December are the City of Palms Classic in Florida followed by Slam Dunk to the Beach in Florida. The city league wars with Christ the King, St. Raymond, Bishop Loughlin and Iona Prep will toughen the Boys from Westchester County in a hurry.

21. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (25-6)

Low-down: The Eagles will go as far as the big man, 7-0 Evan Mobley (No. 1 senior), a double-double machine can carry them. Mobley, a shoo-in for the McDonald’s All-American Game, is headed to USC and will play a “one and done” year for his dad, who is an assistant with the Trojans. Mobley can post a triple-double at any given time. Delivering the ball to Mobley and keeping things under control will be the job of Gonzaga-bound point guard Dominick Harris. Six-six wing Luke Turner is a proven perimeter scorer and the Eagles will need him in double figures most nights.

22. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-5)

Low-down: One of the top guards in the Class of 2021, 6-4 Devin Askew (14.0 ppg, 6.8 apg) will be running show for two years before he goes to Kentucky. The bigs are also juniors, featuring 6-10 Harrison Hornery and 6-9 Wilhelm Breidenback—both who are rim protectors and aggressive rebounders. Gary McKnight (1,136 wins) is nation’s winningest active coach and a true leader who will bring his team to the Tarkanian Classic before Christmas in Las Vegas followed by a trip to the Les Schwab Invitation in Oregon and just after the New Year it’s two games in the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va. That should get the Monarchs ready for the Trinity League fixtures and the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

23. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (30-5)

Low-down: After winning three consecutive North Carolina Independent state championship and five players lost to graduation, the Bengals should be trending downward, right? Forget it! Coach Freddy Johnson (1,049 wins, 11 state titles in 43 years) leans on five seniors and four newcomers that will see action at the Bass Pro Invitational in Missouri and the Chick-fil-A Classic in nearby Charlotte prior to Christmas. A pair of 6-3 guards, Carson McCorkle (Virginia) and Cam Hayes (North Carolina State), are off the ACC schools. McCorkle (15.9 ppg, 52% 3-point) stretch the defense from deep and Hayes uses athleticism to create contact at the rim. At 6-7, Carson Pierce is fundamentally sound as are 6-`1 Whit Trevey and 6-5 wing Christian Bailey. Newbies are 6-3 freshman Jaydon Young, 6-5 junior wing Bryce Harris, 6-12 junior Brick Williams and 6-4 junior Ege Can Katitas (from Turkey).

24. Legacy Early College, Greenville, S.C. (34-5)

Low-down: Coach BJ Johnson has assembled one of the nation’s top independent school programs that will play at premier events in South Carolina, Delaware and Maryland. Johnson will lean on 6-3 wing Ray’Shone Harrison, 6-1 catalyst Jacobi Wright, 6-10 junior Tyrek Priestley and 6-8 Perry Smith, Jr. Recently, the Lions added transfer guard Nate Tabor (from Waterbury, Conn.), who was a St. John’s recruit. Tabor’s addition brings more stability to the backcourt. The Lions are a team worth taking a flier on. The team well coached, they have sought an aggressive schedule and the quality of its players checks all the boxes.

25. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (29-2)

Low-down: There’s a great story percolating in Minnesota with little Minnehaha ready to slay the big-time schools. And for good reason, the Redhawks feature three big-time recruits, including 6-4 point guard Jalen Suggs (serious McDonald’s All-American Game candidate), 7-feet skinny junior Chet Holmgren (18.6 ppg) and athletic 6-5 Prince Aligbe (10.5 ppg). Suggs (24.6 ppg) played for USA Basketball last summer and goes for the four-peat this winter. Holmgren is comfortable and quick on the perimeter but an attack the rim and protect it. Aligbe (Class of 2022) already has offers from the Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 programs. Nine players in total return to squad. The small Christian school is a newcomer to the Elite 25 and because of Minnesota travel restrictions, the three-time defending Class 2A champion Redhawks won’t see too many big in-state games. However, that will change when No. 3 Sierra Canyon School visits on Jan. 4 in an ESPN game that gives coach Lance Johnson a shot at national prominence. Local tests include De La Salle (Minneapolis) and Park Center (Brooklyn Park). Until that January game the Redhawks are included in the Elite 25 barring an upset.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (20-9)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (26-5)
3. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (37-7)
4. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (19-11)
5. Wildwood (N.J.) Catholic (27-2)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. Whitney Young, Chicago (25-8)
2. Morgan Park, Chicago (29-5)
3. Vashon, St. Louis (26-5)
4. Bloom, Chicago Heights, Ill. (26-4)
5. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (22-4)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (35-2)
2. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (34-4)
3. Duncanville, Texas (32-7)
4. Norcross, Ga. (28-4)
5. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (25-4)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-6)
2. O’Dea, Seattle (19-8)
3. Windward, Los Angeles (25-7)
4. Millennium, Goodyear, Ariz. (22-7)
5. Coronado, Henderson, Nev. (17-8)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November until the conclusion of the high school season in April. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.